Tampa officers help little rider to the finish

Tampa (FOX 13) - Little Jacob Mucci just started riding a two-wheeler 3 months ago according to his parents. But this past Saturday this 8-year-old rode 7 miles in the 6th Annual Winter Wonder Ride through downtown Tampa. The ride is a fundraiser with proceeds going towards the purchase of bicycles for at-risk and foster kids throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Jacob and his brother, Austin were also part of the 2016 Bike Build on December 4th hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning where over 750 bikes were assembled for at risk and foster kids.

“He didn't care that he was the very last rider of over 2500, mostly adult participants, he was just thrilled that he had police riding alongside him for the last stretch,” his mother April Mucci said. Jacob’s father, Matthew Mucci took the video of his son riding with the two Tampa PD bicycle officers.

“I asked him a couple of times during the ride if he wanted to turn back at any point and he insisted we go the distance,” Jacob’s father said. The officers, Sgt. Colin McCoy and Officer Luis Vargas from the Tampa Bike Unit can be seen riding on either side of Jacob as he finished the ride.

Jacob’s mother, April posted the following message to the officers on her Lakeland Mom Facebook page.

“This makes my heart swell. Thank you to these two Tampa Police Department bike officers and our entire law enforcement community for the kindness you show the children in our lives.”